Friday, January 31, 2014

The San Diego Symphony Shakes Things Up!

With great weather, amazing beaches, delicious food, and a lively nightlife, it’s no wonder why so many call San Diego their home. Whether you live on the coast or a little farther inland, this Southern California city has so much to offer its residents. From the hiking trails, top ranked beaches, to the culture and beauty of Balboa Park, all the way up to the famous apple pies of Julian, San Diego residents have more than a few activities to choose from. As a member of  PSDM, I strive to keep our communities up-to-date with the new and exciting experiences that are constantly popping up all over this lively and dynamic city.

While San Diego is well-known for a number of its popular outdoor activities, fewer know about some of its truly enriching indoor experiences. I'm referring to the wildly talented San Diego Symphony.  Did you know that San Diego has a nationally respected symphony? In fact, just this last year, they were invited to tour and perform all around China! 
San Diego Symphony via ExperienceSD.com
With its home at the Jacobs Music Center on B Street in downtown, the San Diego Symphony is a hidden cultural gem tucked within a city already so full of life. Recently, the symphony has undergone a transformation. Its building has been given a "facelift" of sophisticated lighting and stylish renovations.
Jacobs Music Center newly renovated lobby vie ExperienceSD.com

However, that's not its only aspect to have been transformed. New, hip and exciting shows were added to its list of traditional concerts. While its classic concerts remain unchanged, a new series called City Lights has been added to its list of performances. This new feature is described as hip, classy and cool by the San Diego Symphony. Only weeks ago, as part of the City Lights series, a show called “Ballroom with a Twist” was premiered. This entertaining show featured Mark Ballas and Peta Murgatroyd from Dancing with the Stars, as well as dancers from Fox channel’s So you ThinkYou Can Dance, along with Gina Glocksen and Von Smith from American Idol. These performers tangoed, sumba’d, jived and sang to the symphony's artfully crafted melodies.
"Ballroom with a Twist" photo courtesy of San Diego Symphony

Better still! If you are interested in attending one of the symphony’s hip concert series, but can't pass by a beautiful San Diego evening inside  there's a wonderful solution for that dilemma. Introducing the Summer Pops Concerts! Throughout the summer, the symphony preforms in an outdoor venue at Embarcadero Marina Park South which just behind the San Diego Convention Center, and only feet from the San Diego Bay. What better way to spend a warm culturally rich San Diego evening!
Article and photo from "Sizzling San Diego Summer Concert on the Water"
from Blog.SanDiego.org


As the symphony changes, bringing in new concerts full excitement, it is a great source of culture and new experiences not only for the residents of our PSDM communities, but for everyone living in San Diego County. It is just one of the many more reasons why San Diego is such a amazing place to live! 


Monday, December 30, 2013

Monterosa Villas: Luxurious Living in The Valley of the Sun.

Vibrant sunsets of pink, purple, and gold is a daily sight in The Valley of the Sun. A place never associated with chilly temperatures, but instead considered a warm winter oasis, Phoenix is a dynamic and lively city; and a great place to call home!
Photo from bradfordjones.com's article "Last Night's Sunset"
Located in Phoenix's Biltmore Corridor is PSDM's newest luxury townhouse community. Only minutes from Biltmore Fashion Park, our homes offer splendid amenities for comfortable living. Our community is centrally located in the Phoenix Metropolitan area which means that access to everything 'but a dream.' Whether you want to hike the stunning Papago Park, pay a visit to the always fun Phoenix Zoo, or eat at one of Scottsdale's many delicious restaurants, living at Monterosa Villas means you can have it all!

Photo from Fabulousarizona.com's event "Biltmore Movies in the Park"
As a newly built community, Monterosa Villas features some of the finest and most modern amenities. The sophisticated architectural design, and desert-scape manicured grounds equals the perfect combination of visually stimulating and low maintenance.  Even better, with over sized attached two car garages, parking in this gated community is as easy as a click of the button. We also have a dazzling clear blue pool for cooling off on those warm Phoenix summer days. 

Monterosa Villas proudly presents two story, three bedroom homes with all the modern conveniences that you would expect in a luxury home. The floor plans are huge, at approximately 2300 square feet and feature unique architectural style.  Our residents love the vaulted ceilings, decorative built-ins, and in-home washers and dryers. With beautiful hardwood flooring, extensive granite counter tops, and modern appliances, our spacious kitchens are perfect for entertaining. 



These luxurious amenities are not only limited to the kitchen. The bathrooms boast beautifully tiled dual head walk-in showers with detached soaking tubs. The dual vanity sinks are yet another added feature that can't be beat.

Did we mention the large walk-in closets?

With some many amenities and added features like detailed crown moldings, and private patios and yards, it's easy to see why Monterosa Villas is a comfortable place to call home. 
Please call, click, or email us to set up your appointment for a guided tour today. Our friendly and knowledgeable on-site staff will be delighted to meet you. You can also visit our Facebook, website, and follow us on Twitter!
Photo from Secondglobe.com's article
"World's Most Amazing Collection of Desert Plants Desert Botanical Garden"


Make Monterosa Villas your luxurious and comfortable home in the beautiful Valley of the Sun!










Friday, December 27, 2013

4 Amazing New Year's Traditions From Around The World!

Another year in the books! As this fun-filled holiday season comes to a close, we celebrate the end of 2013 while welcoming in the beginning of 2014. During this special time of year, we gather with family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances to eat, drink, laugh and cheer as we share in one of the many New Year's traditions.

As a person who loves learning about different countries and cultures, I stumbled across a few interesting and  fun New Year's traditions from around the world. Also, at Pacifica Companies, we not only want to provide our readers with information about local events surrounding our communities, but with things going on across the globe as well!


While having been born and raised in the United States, I must admit that I've not experienced, in person, the first excited New Year's tradition on my list; the New York City Ball Drop. Streets packed with tens of thousands of people, the Ball Drop in Times Square overflows with excitement as the crowd waits for the flashing ball to drop exactly at midnight. This hugely popular, and globally broadcasted event claims to be the party of the year, and by the look of the crowd, that claim must be true!



EMMANUEL DUNLAND / Getty Images / AFP
If you can't make it to the ball drop in the Big Apple, perhaps you can make it to the Big Peach Drop in Atlanta. While this tradition has only been around since 1989, the Peach Drop of Atlanta has grown into a exciting experience all its own!


Photo from RollingOut.com's "New Year's Eve 2013 Events in Atlanta"
Heading south to Columbia, I found a slightly difference tradition that is no less fun. "The Twelve Grapes of Luck", introduced by the Spanish in 1895, requires that at the stroke of midnight you have exactly one minute to eat twelve grapes. As you eat each grape, you should make a wish about for the upcoming year. If you are able to finish all twelve grapes within the minute, your wishes are said to come true!


JACILLUCH / Flickr
If stuffing your face with grapes isn't quite your thing, then you could always follow The Netherlands' lead. After a night of fun and festivities, these Hollanders strip down to swimming shorts, put on a Where's Waldo red hat, and then run into the frigid ocean. Called the Scheveningen, this tradition will wake anyone up from a crazy New Year's Eve night!


JASPER JUINEN / Getty Images Europe
Moving to a much warmer tradition, but no less wet, I present the New Year's Water Fight of Thailand! While New Years in Thailand doesn't take place until April 13th, this wet and wild tradition needed to be my list. For the three days surrounding New Years, the entire nation breaks out into a huge water fight. With everyone carrying water guns, buckets and bottles of water, not a single person is safe from this rowdy tradition. Even still, this water fight is not confined to designated sections of towns and cities; anybody anywhere is free game to receive a good drenching!


JACK KURTZ / Getty Images
My hope for this short list is to show the readers something new and fun. Maybe even, in the future take part in one of the traditions. Whatever the case, I, we at Pacifica Companies wish you happy traditions, and a very Happy New Year!




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Friday, December 20, 2013

Simple and Fun Do-It-Yourself Decorations for the Holidays.


With the holidays upon us, life can get pretty crazy. Long days of running from mall to mall. Hours spent braving crowds, busy parking lots, and the inevitable holiday traffic can leave anyone in need of some relaxation. And after a full day of shopping, nothing feels better than returning home, kicking off your shoes, lying on a soft couch, and putting your feet up!

What's even better is to put your feet up in a home that is beautifully decorated with holiday cheer. I understand that after shopping which during the holiday season should be considered an athletic sport, spending hours decorating might not be high on your priority list. However, I've found an amazing website with quick and easy holiday decorating tips that will fool anyone into thinking that you'd spent hours putting them together. 

As part of Pacific SD Management and a renter myself, I know how important it is to make your apartment feel like home, especially during the holidays.


With the ever growing popularity of Pinterest, creative at-home projects have become all the rage. Everyday items are being turned into tables, lamps, accent pieces and so much more. The amount of creativity surrounding Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects is inspiring!


With so much creativity everywhere, it’s not surprising that some fantastic DIY ideas for holiday decorations have been popping up all over the internet. These simple and inexpensive projects are great for transforming any apartment into a holiday wonderland.

One savvy website, Apartmenttherapy.com has some fun ways of decorating for the holidays. In "10 Simple Christmas Decorating Ideas for Small Places", they show us how to create some amazing holiday cheer using household items, many of which you might already have. 

One simple idea that I used in my own apartment was the ornament and ribbon hanging from a light decoration. All that I needed for that project were ten ornaments, I used all sliver, and ten varying lengths of ribbon. After tying everything together, then hanging them from my kitchen light, I stood back to inspect my work. To my pleasant surprise it looked great! For being so inexpensive and easy to make, I couldn't believe how fancy it looked. To give a better idea about how this decoration looks, I've attached a photo from ApartmentTherapy.com's article "10 simple Christmas Decorating Ideas for Small Places." 


 
Photo from ApartmentTherapy.com's article "10 Simple Christmas Decorating Ideas for Small Places." 
With this and a few other of their ideas, using lights and tree branches, I've added some fun and sophisticated holiday flare to my home.




Photos from ApartmentTherapy.com's article "10 Simple Christmas Decorating Ideas for Small Places."
As someone who lives in an apartment and understands the need to be creative when decorating, I recommend checking out "10 Simple Christmas Decorating Ideas for Small Places" by ApartmentTherapy.com, Give these creative DIY projects a try! Their ideas really will give any apartment that holiday wow factor!


Happy Holidays from Pacifica Companies!


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Friday, December 13, 2013

Calabria: Seattle's Mountain Retreat



Have you ever dreamed of living in a place that's surrounded by lush evergreen trees, and where the air is fresh and clean; your own personal mountain resort? Have you ever wished for a place that is close enough to the city so you can stay easily connected, but far enough away, so you have a break from the hustle and bustle of downtown metropolitan life? One of our newest luxury communities, Calabria at Talus in Issaquah, has finally made this a reality.

With multiple spacious floors plans, this new, never lived in community in the highly coveted neighborhood of Talus in Issaquah, offers something for everyone. Whether you're looking for a studio, a 1, 3, or even 4 bedroom home, we have what you need.

Our residents enjoy features like attached 2 car garages in our townhomes, designer interior paint, sketched glass pantry doors, and even an indoor elevator in one of our homes. With amenities like large walk-in closets, hardwood floors, fireplaces, tray ceilings, charming built-ins, stainless steel appliances, and granite counter tops, living in a Calabria home is both luxurious and made for quality living.

Sophisticated and Modern Interior Design

Beautiful Hardwood Flooring and Granite Countertops
With hiking trails just outside your front door, you will feel like you have been whisked away into your very own mountain sanctuary.  Did we mention the nearby dog park which is a great additional feature, and an added benefit for man's best friend?

For the savvy renter, our community's modern comfort and natural surroundings are made even more impressive by the close proximity to Seattle and Bellevue. If you work at the Microsoft Headquarters in Bellevue, or need to catch a ride into Seattle, the Issaquah Transit Center makes your daily commute an easy and stress-free one.

If recreation and high energy activity is what you're looking for, Calabria at Talus has access to some amazing local attractions as well. The beautiful Lake Sammamish State Park features incredible outdoor activities, and is only a quick 5 mile jaunt away. Visitors of this large state park can enjoy rowing, fishing, wake boarding, paragliding, hiking, and so much more. If you're looking for a more relaxed day out, why not give your viticulture taste bud's a treat in Seattle's wine country; wineries are only 20 miles south of Calabria at Talus.

With so much to offer, Calabria at Talus is the perfect place to call home. Our amenities and luxurious design make it second to none. Please call, click, or email us to set up your appointment for a guided tour today.  Our friendly and knowledgeable on-site staff would be delighted to meet you.  You can also visit our Facebook page and website for more information.

Let us show you why Calabria at Talus rental homes are truly a dream come true!

Jacksonville Is Glowing Bright With Holiday Light!




It’s that time again! The time of year for holiday festivities. As cities across the United States show their holiday cheer with decorated buildings, trimmed trees, and lively parades, Jacksonville follows suit with its own brightly lit houses full of holiday excitement.

Whether you prefer traditionally decorated houses, or if you hope to see something different, Jacksonville has it all. There are quirky houses with scenes of snow and elves making holiday gifts. There are houses draped with row upon row of twinkling multicolored lights. There are even houses that blast rock music and flash LEDs in perfectly choreographed displays for the entertainment of awestruck onlookers. It really is an amazing sight! Happily, a local newspaper, The Florida Times-Union has put together "The Best Christmas Light Displays in Jacksonville" which organizes the top neighborhoods and houses to visit.

With so much happening during the holiday season, it can be easy to miss out on some events.
Fortunately, VisitJacksonville.com (Jacksonville Convention and Visitors Bureau) keeps all the residents up-to-date with everything going on around the community. It’s a perfect site for anyone who might be relocating to this city. Also, it’s a great resource for the residents of Eagles Pointe Apartments, our newest apartment community in Jacksonville. Additionally, our on-sited team and us here at corporate PSDM strive to post local information and fun facts to keep your Jacksonville living always up to par!

The holiday season is not the only time of year that Jacksonville is alive with excitement. This year-round city has much more to offer its residents. The riverfront is a beautiful downtown feature that has great shopping and amazing restaurants. Jacksonville also has a number of fun and exciting neighborhoods. These neighborhoods differ from one another, offering distinct cultural and culinary delights. However, if the smell of ocean air is what you desire, there are a number of beaches only minutes away. The closest beach to the Eagles Pointe Apartments is less than 15 miles away!

 If you have already visited the downtown riverwalk, explored the neighborhoods, and have thoroughly enjoyed the local beaches, there is still so much more to experience. Just a quick 90 minute drive from Jacksonville is Daytona Beach, a lively beach city. Continuing further south, only a short 2 and a half hour drive and you'll find yourself in Orlando, home of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.

Eagles Pointe Apartments will make you feel right at home during the holiday season. Since we are located next to great shopping and malls, tackling that holiday gift giving list couldn’t be easier. Plus, our beautiful and spacious 1, 2, and 3 bedroom homes are the perfect canvas for your holiday decorating. Please visit our Eagles Pointe Apartment Facebook and website.

 With so much to offer, Jacksonville is a great place to live, and as our newest community, Eagles Pointe Apartments is the perfect place to begin your Jacksonville experience.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Fast Times at PSDM!

Wow! Time sure does Fly! Especially when you're having fun in your gorgeous new apartment!

It has been months since one of my Savvy Apartment Living posts has braved the wonderful world of blogging. It has been a busy and exciting summer here at PSDM.  We have officially moved into my favorite season of all, Fall, with more fantastic communities in our portfolio as well as incredible changes and renovations at many of our existing properties. To get all the savvy residents out there up to speed, I thought I would title this entry: "Fast Times at PSDM!"

In the tropical vacation-land of Florida, we at PSDM are pleased to announce our newest editions in the greater Tampa Bay area.  We are proud to present: Foxcroft Apartments in Tampa, Florida as well as Aventine at Forest Lakes in Oldsmar, Florida.  Both of these communities offer their residents beautiful and spacious floor plans, lush landscaping, great amenities such as a sparkling pool and sports courts, and more importantly, a caring staff dedicated to providing exceptional service.  

I have been fortunate enough to leave the West Coast and see these gorgeous communities in the flesh.  Let me tell you, seeing how much space there is, as well as being so well connected with the beaches, shopping, and businesses in downtown Tampa, and more, it has made me think twice about the high costs of Southern California living. These communities offer exceptional value and great living, and all at a price you can afford. 

This trip was my first to Tampa, Florida and I was excited to learn about what interesting and distinct touristic attractions Tampa has to offer.  Being that I went to graduate school in Spain, the art of Salvador Dali has always been a favorite of mine, so I was amazed to find out that St. Petersburg houses one of the very few Dali Museum outside of Spain! "Que bien!"  

Tampa is also only about an hour's drive east of Orlando too, so if you are thinking to plan a vacation here, you can easily add DisneyWorld into the mix.  Epcot Center was by far my favorite.  Being that I love to travel, a skip around several countries of the world in one day was like a dream.

Yes, Tampa has a lot to offer and PSDM has quite the portfolio there too.  You can visit all of our communities online at www.psdm.com.  I'm sure that you will find the perfect home at either Allegro Palm, Alta Mar at Broadwater, Bridgewater Luxury Rentals, Foxcroft Apartments, and Aventine at Forest Lakes.  You might even have trouble making a decision with so many choices!  

With so much diversity and options, we are sure there's a fit for you. So take a look at one of our properties today.  After you tour one of our communities, you can make a quick dash for the Florida coast, lay on the sand, read a book, and just take in the sunshine at one on Tampa's gorgeous beaches.  The tropical landscape and warm year-round climate that Tampa enjoys, makes it quite the city to visit, and after seeing our newest homes out there, a definite city to live in as well.

Aventine at Forest Lakes - Living Room


Foxcroft Apartments